Events: Downtown NOLA Awards
The Downtown Development District of New Orleans created the Downtown NOLA Awards as an annual program to recognize the exceptional accomplishments of Downtown NOLA property owners, businesses, residents, workers and organizations. The DDD wants to honor the people and places that inspire, innovate and integrate the Downtown NOLA brand into their neighborhoods.
Evaluation of nominees is based upon a list of criteria reviewed by the DDD’s Awards Committee, which consists of neighborhood leaders and DDD staff members. The criteria include “Raising the Bar” — establishing a high standard of excellence; “Innovation” — a novel and creative approach to problem-solving; “Place-Making” — working with, enhancing or expanding the existing design and other assets of Downtown; “Collaboration” — promoting collaboration within “Industries of the Mind,” and/or between public and private partners, and “Branding” — integrating and amplifying the Downtown NOLA brand.
The nominations are in, and the winners will be announced at the DDD’s Downtown NOLA Awards Event. Buy your ticket today and meet us Downtown on Friday, May 18 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm to celebrate the recipients of the Downtown NOLA Awards! downtownnolaawards.com
Sip: Haro Coffee & Chocolate
Recently opened by owner Ryan Haro on the corner of Carondolet and Girod streets, Haro Coffee & Chocolate is both a coffeehouse and an after-dinner dessert shop serving locally-roasted, fair-trade, organic coffee, specialty “grand cru” chocolates and exclusive wines. Delicious dainties include house-made marshmallows dipped in chocolate, chocolate-covered bacon, chocolate-dipped Zapp’s potato chips, caramel milk-chocolate pyramids, chocolate-dipped strawberries, truffles, caramel apples and more. Haro Coffee & Chocolate is open early every day, so you can pop in for a morning cappuccino and a chocolate-chip cookie before work and return late at night for an after-dinner sweet. haronola.com
Get funky: Wednesday at the Square
Wednesday at the Square, a 12-week, springtime concert series at Lafayette Square, continues on May 7! The event features fantastic local musicians, food and drink vendors and even a mini-arts market. May’s lineup includes performers like The Iguanas, Gravity A, Flow Tribe and more! Proceeds from this annual event benefit the Young Leadership Council and their tireless effort to recruit and retain young professionals to New Orleans, developing leadership and involvement through community events.
wednesdayatthesquare.com
Play: Fulton Alley
Fulton Street now has its very own alley — a bowling alley, that is! Featuring craft foods and drinks, Fulton Alley is the Crescent City’s only “boutique” bowling alley. Executive chef Mike Nirenberg, formerly of Tivoli & Lee, has created a fun, mouthwatering menu that includes Andouille Gravy Fries, Crispy Smoked Chicken Sliders with White BBQ Sauce, Deviled Eggs with Chicken Cracklin’ and Ponchatoula Strawberry Cake. The cocktail menu is curated by Cure superstars Neal Bodenheimer and Kirk Estopinal, and offers a combination of both traditional and craft cocktails. Take all that and throw in 12 lanes of bowling and music mixed by local DJs, and you have the Fulton Alley experience. Bowling, anyone? fultonalley.com